OUR APPROACH
The chanwakan (sacred tree) is what gives life to our people. The roots of the tree provide the foundation and lifeforce to provide growth to the rest of the tree. This lifeforce is the work of our Lifeways and Wellness Equity and is what connects the work our Initiatives and our community. Lifeways and Wellness Equity provides the foundation by which our eight initiatives develop their programs and provide services to the community.
The branches of the tree represent our Initiatives. The work of each Initiative branches out into our community but also reminds us of the connections they all hold between their work.
The leaves and seeds represent our program participants, community members, partners, and all others who are connected to Thunder Valley.
The leaves and seeds that leave the tree tell the story of our work and plant the seeds of individuals who have begun their liberation journey. Children will grow in healthy homes that provide healthy boundaries through our wotakuye (kinship) and guided by Lifeways. These are the pathways toward healing which ripple out into our families, communities and nation.
Because we have experienced generational oppression and historical trauma, our model is representative of the time in which our Lakota Oyate (people) will journey toward our ultimate LIBERATION and achievement of our Vision and Mission.